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What Senior Care Costs

Minnesota's published median costs for assisted living, nursing homes and in-home care, with the caveats that matter.

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What senior care costs in your metro

The most recent widely-cited CareScout Cost of Care Survey figures for Minnesota put assisted living, private one-bedroom, at approximately $6,573 per month, a semi-private nursing home room at approximately $12,167 per month, and a private nursing home room at approximately $14,068 per month. These figures come from third-party sites citing the CareScout survey -- we could not independently confirm them against CareScout's own published tables, so treat them as directional until reconfirmed against a primary source.

CareScout does not publish a Minneapolis-St. Paul metro-specific figure -- only a statewide Minnesota median -- so actual local pricing likely differs by community and neighborhood. There is no published memory care cost median anywhere in the country; CareScout does not survey it as a category, and we do not estimate one.

Questions families ask

How does VA Aid and Attendance help pay for assisted living or memory care?

VA Aid and Attendance is a needs-based pension add-on for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities; as of the December 1, 2025 rate year, a veteran alone can receive up to $29,093/year (about $2,424/month) and a surviving spouse alone up to $18,697/year (about $1,558/month), subject to a net worth limit of $163,699 excluding a primary residence and one vehicle.

Are there hidden fees I should watch for when comparing assisted living communities?

Yes — most Twin Cities assisted living communities charge a base rent plus separate, tiered fees for higher levels of personal care, medication management, and sometimes a one-time community or move-in fee, so the advertised 'starting at' rate rarely reflects the total monthly cost for a resident who needs meaningful assistance.

Does home care cost less than assisted living in the Twin Cities?

It depends heavily on how many hours of care are needed — a verified current Minnesota non-medical home care hourly rate could not be confirmed against a primary source, but 24/7 in-home care, once multiple caregiver shifts are factored in, is typically far more expensive than a private-pay assisted living apartment, even though a few hours a week of home care is usually cheaper than a full move.

What is Housing Support and how does it help with assisted living costs?

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-low-income residents in certain licensed settings offset room-and-board costs — something the Elderly Waiver itself is not permitted to pay for.

What does the Minnesota long-term care ombudsman do?

The Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC), part of the Minnesota Board on Aging, investigates and helps resolve complaints for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities (including memory care), and board-and-lodging settings statewide, and advocates for residents' rights. Reach OOLTC at 1-800-657-3591 or 651-431-2555.

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